Download - Whatcom CWP Partnership
Whatcom CWP Partnership
• Whatcom County Planning and Development• Whatcom County Health• Whatcom County Public Works• Whatcom Conservation District• Nooksack Tribe• Lummi Nation• Dept. of Health• Dept. of Agriculture• WA Conservation Commission• Dept. of Ecology• Puget Sound Partnership• Environmental Protection Agency• Natural Resources Conservation Service
Whatcom CWP Guiding Principles
• Focus on highest priority areas first, based on water quality data, predominance of dairies vs. non-dairy livestock operations• Follow the data, including samples data from long-term, short-term ambient stations, bracket samples of specific reaches, on- farm samples, observations • Offer technical and financial assistance to all who are interested• Use progressive enforcement where necessary to achieve cooperation and compliance
Portage Bay Shellfish Harvest Area and Marine Monitoring Sites
Bertrand Watershed Focus Area
Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District
April 12 – emergency closure based on high fresh water sampling results.
Drayton Harbor Watershed Focus Area
Program ActivitiesLate May 2013, Whatcom County Public Works will begin community engagement efforts. Activities include:
•Initial focus on a segment of Lower Dakota Creek •Routine water quality monitoring throughout watershed•Targeted bracket monitoring and opportunity for landowners to conduct their
own monitoring•Community outreach and engagement strategy to implement community-led
solutions•Ecology is regulatory backstop (non-dairy livestock)
BFO’s Compliance Pathway for Livestock Operators
Public Outreach & Education• P
otentially affected people will be notified of pollution issues associated with livestock and informed of assistance that may be available.
Personal Contact• O
perator is made aware of specific noncompliant conditions, provided education, technical assistance, and directed to financial assistance (if applicable).
• This could be a site visit, email, letter, or home call.
Warning Letter• U
sed after operator fails to correct issues following technical assistance and education
• Notifies operator of consequences of not complying.
Notice of Violation/Administrative Order• F
ormal enforcement action that requires the recipient to complete certain tasks within a given timeframe to correct violations
Civil Penalty• P
rovides economic motivation to ensure compliance with the law.
• A means for influencing the behavior of both violator and general regulated community.
Ecology pursues a progressive escalation of enforcement responses to resolve the noncompliance when voluntary compliance is not forthcoming.
Informal Enforcement: cost share is available
Formal Enforcement: cost share no
longer available
Agricultural Best Management Practice FundFor BMP Financial Assistance
Whatcom CWP Milestones
Initial meeting of policy level group Two nonpoint Ag. Inspectors hired Priority sub-basins identified Core Group guiding principles agreement PIC Grant for Whatcom County approved Work groups established Additional monitoring stations established in Bertrand Watershed
Program website established Kick-off open house for Bertrand Watershed landowners Windshield survey of properties with livestock Proposal for Ag. BMP Fund cost-share storefront received – working on grant agreement Areas prioritized based on high fecal coliform counts Landowners contacted for initial site visits Site visits begun
2012 May July September November December2013 March
April